Scientist's lifelong obsession with mystery of elusive 'pink zebra' seaweed
Summary
A scientist named Professor Christine Maggs spent over 40 years searching for a tiny pink-striped seaweed she first noticed during her PhD studies in UK waters. Recently, researchers found enough of this seaweed to confirm it is a brand new species, adding to the variety of life found in underwater habitats called maerl beds.Key Facts
- Maerl beds are underwater areas made of many small pieces of hard seaweed that create rich habitats for marine life.
- In the 1980s, Prof. Christine Maggs discovered a small, pink-striped seaweed she could not identify.
- She suspected this seaweed was a new species but needed a bigger sample to prove it.
- Two years ago, researchers surveying maerl beds in Cornwall found samples of this seaweed again.
- Prof. Maggs used a wine fridge to store and grow the seaweed for DNA testing.
- DNA analysis confirmed the pink-striped seaweed is a new species never before known to science.
- The new seaweed species is now part of the Natural History Museum’s collection.
- The discovery shows that even well-studied habitats like maerl beds can still hide unknown species.
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